Leesburg police make scores of arrests in drug sweep

Dealers mostly sold cocaine, officials said.

October 28, 2010|By Arelis R. Hernández, Orlando Sentinel

Leesburg police arrested dozens of suspects today during a narcotics crackdown intended to sweep the streets of illegal drug sales.

Capt. Robert Hicks said 50 officers participated in "Operation Double Nickel," which issued 76 arrest warrants on 55 people accused of selling drugs within Leesburg's city limits. So far, police have caught 42 of them.

"We're hoping the streets of Leesburg are safer to walk tonight," Hicks said as he stood next to a yellow display board of the 55 mug shots, some with red and white "captured" stickers over them.

A crackdown of this size should discourage outsiders from coming into the city to get their drugs, Hicks said. The drugs are known to travel between Ocala, Leesburg, Eustis and Clermont, police said.

Officers were split up into teams to locate suspects, who were found walking on the streets, hanging out in front of convenience stores and inside their homes. They confiscated money and small amounts of crack cocaine and marijuana.

A majority of the people arrested have previous criminal records and were selling cocaine, Hicks said.

Police said the arrests will "significantly" impact drug sales in the city but they were unsure whether the arrestees are small or big-time drug handlers.

Nevertheless, Hicks said, "There are quite a few dangerous men on this board."

Hicks said drug arrests have increased since the department reorganized and created a street crimes unit.

The investigation involved the Sumter County Sheriff's Office, Lake County Sheriff's Office, Eustis Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Marshals.